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Silk & Venom: The incredible lives of spiders
There are more than 50 000 species of spiders. They surround us in our daily lives and, contrary to popular belief, the vast majority are completely harmless to humans.
In Silk & Venom, James O’Hanlon takes us from his backyard to all corners of the globe (and even outer space!) to explore these fascinating creatures and show us why they’re not so scary after all.
You’ll encounter everything from miniscule jumping spiders with super intelligence to giant tarantulas whose venom could one day save your life.
Clearing up spider myths and misconceptions, James O’Hanlon introduces readers to the beauty of their lives, including remarkable hunting techniques, the fascinating engineering of spider silk and the spiders that live in extremes — from underwater to the slopes of Mount Everest.
'Within the first few paragraphs, I knew that this book was going to be brilliant. With a fresh and creative approach, Silk & Venom takes away fear and instead fills the reader with amazing eight-legged tales and stories.' — Sami Bayly
'A thrilling meander through lesser-known aspects of the lives of Australia’s numerous and fascinating spiders, which over the years have been grossly and unfairly maligned. I for one have a new appreciation for these diminutive predators, which play a vital role in Australia’s ecosystems.' — John Pickrell
'If, like me, you love natural history, ALL OF NATURAL HISTORY, you’ll adore James O’Hanlon’s enthralling Silk & Venom. It is surprising and funny, and will make every part of the garden (and even dark crevices indoors) look so much more intriguing — and safe.' — Robyn Williams
In Silk & Venom, James O’Hanlon takes us from his backyard to all corners of the globe (and even outer space!) to explore these fascinating creatures and show us why they’re not so scary after all.
You’ll encounter everything from miniscule jumping spiders with super intelligence to giant tarantulas whose venom could one day save your life.
Clearing up spider myths and misconceptions, James O’Hanlon introduces readers to the beauty of their lives, including remarkable hunting techniques, the fascinating engineering of spider silk and the spiders that live in extremes — from underwater to the slopes of Mount Everest.
'Within the first few paragraphs, I knew that this book was going to be brilliant. With a fresh and creative approach, Silk & Venom takes away fear and instead fills the reader with amazing eight-legged tales and stories.' — Sami Bayly
'A thrilling meander through lesser-known aspects of the lives of Australia’s numerous and fascinating spiders, which over the years have been grossly and unfairly maligned. I for one have a new appreciation for these diminutive predators, which play a vital role in Australia’s ecosystems.' — John Pickrell
'If, like me, you love natural history, ALL OF NATURAL HISTORY, you’ll adore James O’Hanlon’s enthralling Silk & Venom. It is surprising and funny, and will make every part of the garden (and even dark crevices indoors) look so much more intriguing — and safe.' — Robyn Williams
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 19, 2023
I really hope James O'Hanlon has read Children of Time.
January 2, 2024
Non-fiction books usually take me a while to read, but this one was very digestible (much like the insides of a mama spider as she prepares a sacrificial meal for her babies) and I sped through it.
My mum got this for me for my birthday because she knows what a spider fan I am (after, amongst other things, watching me make my sister hold her handbag behind a spider web across my driveway so I could take a good picture of the spood, then asking my sister for us to take her car instead so I didn't disturb the web) so I didn't go in thinking I was going to like them any more than I already do, but I did! I learnt some very cool things, which my partner did not allow me to tell him before bedtime in case he had nightmares about spider fangs but did listen to in the morning. I have also been inspecting jumping spiders with much more interest, having usually dismissed them as the boring spiders. The author is not wrong. They are quite cute.
My mum got this for me for my birthday because she knows what a spider fan I am (after, amongst other things, watching me make my sister hold her handbag behind a spider web across my driveway so I could take a good picture of the spood, then asking my sister for us to take her car instead so I didn't disturb the web) so I didn't go in thinking I was going to like them any more than I already do, but I did! I learnt some very cool things, which my partner did not allow me to tell him before bedtime in case he had nightmares about spider fangs but did listen to in the morning. I have also been inspecting jumping spiders with much more interest, having usually dismissed them as the boring spiders. The author is not wrong. They are quite cute.
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November 21, 2023O’Hanlon sets out to be an ambassador of human-spider relations and achieves that aim - his style is chatty, the stories are fascinating, and I would have loved a lot more photos. Recommended!
November 24, 2023
Well, I’ve read some books in my time, but this attempt to whitewash spiders, in all their sinister eight-legged evil is a brazen new benchmark for bias. The author, James O’Hanlon, would have the reader believe spiders aren’t going to crawl into our mouths at night to drink our saliva, aren’t going to breed, nest and have legions of spider babies in our beards and dreadlocks, and aren’t – should we fall deeply asleep for long enough – going to wrap us in silk sheets with tensile strength greater than steel, inject us with digestive enzymes, let our insides turn to mush, then suck up our remains for dinner.
Instead, O’Hanlon takes us on a journey into space and around the world, including a place called Tasmania, where the cave spiders are as fascinating, diverse and capable of astonishing behaviours as the rest of the so-called Kingdom of the Spiders. It’s propaganda, pure and simple, and the author, a “scientist”, makes no attempt to hide his affection for, and curiosity about, the crawly buggers – insisting most of them aren’t deadly poisonous to humans, and that bites won’t result in flesh-eating bacteria turning us into deformed and gangrenous caricatures of our former healthy selves, as surgeons sadly shake their heads then amputate another limb or two.
James O’Hanlon has befriended myriads of tiny critters, in the wildest corners of the planet, and brings together, in this overt propaganda for the arachnid sector, tales and details of their bizarre, amazing and unexpected abilities. Yes folks, spiders aren’t just evil, clever, and can live and thrive almost anywhere – even the smoking ruins of exploded volcanoes because, oh yeah – THEY CAN FLY! As I read this book, gripped by the alarming details, Bill, the Huntsman (or Huntslady – I can’t tell, and he or she isn’t saying) living in my Study, emerged from behind the picture above my computer. Bill is one of the ‘good ones’, a lot like Six-Leg down in the kitchen, or Ol’ Pervie, who makes the odd appearance in the toilet. We can chat and, if they look a bit flat, I find the odd fly to feed them – live and let live, right? They all do a great job keeping the other insects down to a dull roar, and Bill seems to take interest in my work. And now, thanks to O’Hanlon, I can grudgingly admit I know more about them and their spidery ways. Me and Bill chuckle about the Daddy-longlegs spiders milling in corners having teeny-tiny pincers that are too small to bite humans despite having the MOST TOXIC VENOM IN THE WORLD*. (*Professor O’Hanlon loudly claims this as another anti-spider myth, but he would, right?)
So, okay, yes, spiders are incredible, Professor James (if you even are a professor), and the benefits they offer to us, and to current and future tech advances, are potentially brilliant, and I suppose, yes, jumping spiders are cute af, and I found your whole book about their lives fascinating…BUT, you couldn’t answer your own question: ‘why don’t people like spiders?’
Well, Mister Science Guy, it’s simple – it’s not the legginess, it’s not the way they move around the joint, it’s not the chompy mandibles, and it’s not the way they crawl up our noses to lay their eggs (okay, fine, I made that one up), it’s what’s missing!
A tail.
If they had a tail, and they could wag it, we’d know what they were thinking. If we don’t know how they’re feeling, we can’t relate. So all you need to do is create a spider-dog hybrid. Problem solved. You’re welcome.
Instead, O’Hanlon takes us on a journey into space and around the world, including a place called Tasmania, where the cave spiders are as fascinating, diverse and capable of astonishing behaviours as the rest of the so-called Kingdom of the Spiders. It’s propaganda, pure and simple, and the author, a “scientist”, makes no attempt to hide his affection for, and curiosity about, the crawly buggers – insisting most of them aren’t deadly poisonous to humans, and that bites won’t result in flesh-eating bacteria turning us into deformed and gangrenous caricatures of our former healthy selves, as surgeons sadly shake their heads then amputate another limb or two.
James O’Hanlon has befriended myriads of tiny critters, in the wildest corners of the planet, and brings together, in this overt propaganda for the arachnid sector, tales and details of their bizarre, amazing and unexpected abilities. Yes folks, spiders aren’t just evil, clever, and can live and thrive almost anywhere – even the smoking ruins of exploded volcanoes because, oh yeah – THEY CAN FLY! As I read this book, gripped by the alarming details, Bill, the Huntsman (or Huntslady – I can’t tell, and he or she isn’t saying) living in my Study, emerged from behind the picture above my computer. Bill is one of the ‘good ones’, a lot like Six-Leg down in the kitchen, or Ol’ Pervie, who makes the odd appearance in the toilet. We can chat and, if they look a bit flat, I find the odd fly to feed them – live and let live, right? They all do a great job keeping the other insects down to a dull roar, and Bill seems to take interest in my work. And now, thanks to O’Hanlon, I can grudgingly admit I know more about them and their spidery ways. Me and Bill chuckle about the Daddy-longlegs spiders milling in corners having teeny-tiny pincers that are too small to bite humans despite having the MOST TOXIC VENOM IN THE WORLD*. (*Professor O’Hanlon loudly claims this as another anti-spider myth, but he would, right?)
So, okay, yes, spiders are incredible, Professor James (if you even are a professor), and the benefits they offer to us, and to current and future tech advances, are potentially brilliant, and I suppose, yes, jumping spiders are cute af, and I found your whole book about their lives fascinating…BUT, you couldn’t answer your own question: ‘why don’t people like spiders?’
Well, Mister Science Guy, it’s simple – it’s not the legginess, it’s not the way they move around the joint, it’s not the chompy mandibles, and it’s not the way they crawl up our noses to lay their eggs (okay, fine, I made that one up), it’s what’s missing!
A tail.
If they had a tail, and they could wag it, we’d know what they were thinking. If we don’t know how they’re feeling, we can’t relate. So all you need to do is create a spider-dog hybrid. Problem solved. You’re welcome.
April 24, 2025
Silk & Venom is a non-fiction book about spiders, written by James O'Hanlon. It talks about a variety of aspects about spiders. Such as what they are, what they eat, types of spiders, what they do, where they live, etc. The author primarily aims to educate and to lesson some of the mystery of the creatures.
As a reader who isn’t particularly knowledgeable about spiders, I felt like the book was reasonably easy to understand. The book is somewhat talkative, and the author is writing as if he is holding a conversation with the audience. I think it’s a good example of a non-fiction book because, though there’s mass amounts of information to get through, the author does try and make it fun in many ways. I loved the little “choose-your-own-adventure” story about the Portia spider. Such fun! The author definitely gives the book a little bit of amusement.
It’s the type of book that gives an overview of a bunch of different topics. So, if you want more knowledge on some bits, to learn more, you’ll likely need to find other resources, in addition to this book. But as is, I think the author has done well at covering a range of different topics of the spiders. Some of my favourite portions are when the author talks about venom and the way spiders build webs or the way the spiders capture their prey. I also liked the mentions of how spider products, such as venoms and silk, are used in things such as medicines. As well as discussion about things such as the future medical and agricultural possibilities for them. The author even talks about how spider venom is used to create antivenom. A bit I loved was when the author was talking about spider silk and how it has been used to create garments, though at great monetary and time expense.
Admittedly, I would have liked for more images to have been included in the book. It would have been nice to have pictures shown alongside the spiders the author is talking about in each section. I ended up looking them up on a search engine. But I think it would have been great if they’d been included in the book. Especially considering that the author often talks about their appearances and how such appearances are beneficial to the spiders’ lives. While there are a variety of common spiders mentioned (ones that people might have a mental idea of what they look like), I still feel like it would be good to see them on the page, too. There is a bit of a section of photographs, but it’s not many in comparison to the number of spiders mentioned by the author.
Overall, I like the book a fair bit. I was interested in a bunch of the different topics that the author talked about. And after reading it, I was even talking to my sister about the bits that I had found interesting. As a non-fiction book, I think that it’s pretty good. Definitely worth a read, if you’re looking to learn some more about spiders.
As a reader who isn’t particularly knowledgeable about spiders, I felt like the book was reasonably easy to understand. The book is somewhat talkative, and the author is writing as if he is holding a conversation with the audience. I think it’s a good example of a non-fiction book because, though there’s mass amounts of information to get through, the author does try and make it fun in many ways. I loved the little “choose-your-own-adventure” story about the Portia spider. Such fun! The author definitely gives the book a little bit of amusement.
It’s the type of book that gives an overview of a bunch of different topics. So, if you want more knowledge on some bits, to learn more, you’ll likely need to find other resources, in addition to this book. But as is, I think the author has done well at covering a range of different topics of the spiders. Some of my favourite portions are when the author talks about venom and the way spiders build webs or the way the spiders capture their prey. I also liked the mentions of how spider products, such as venoms and silk, are used in things such as medicines. As well as discussion about things such as the future medical and agricultural possibilities for them. The author even talks about how spider venom is used to create antivenom. A bit I loved was when the author was talking about spider silk and how it has been used to create garments, though at great monetary and time expense.
Admittedly, I would have liked for more images to have been included in the book. It would have been nice to have pictures shown alongside the spiders the author is talking about in each section. I ended up looking them up on a search engine. But I think it would have been great if they’d been included in the book. Especially considering that the author often talks about their appearances and how such appearances are beneficial to the spiders’ lives. While there are a variety of common spiders mentioned (ones that people might have a mental idea of what they look like), I still feel like it would be good to see them on the page, too. There is a bit of a section of photographs, but it’s not many in comparison to the number of spiders mentioned by the author.
Overall, I like the book a fair bit. I was interested in a bunch of the different topics that the author talked about. And after reading it, I was even talking to my sister about the bits that I had found interesting. As a non-fiction book, I think that it’s pretty good. Definitely worth a read, if you’re looking to learn some more about spiders.
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April 11, 2024Australia made me fear spiders less. Yes, I saw lots of way-too-big, colorful spiders, but they were all 'over there.' One was in a bathroom corner. But not one came near me, and it was honestly a bit of exposure therapy of sorts. So when I was in Brisbane, I picked up Silk & Venom: The Incredible Lives of Spiders to learn more about how spiders were cool.
This book definitely taught me that spiders are awesome. Diving bell spiders live in underwater nests by using air bubbles. Spiders can use electromagnetic fields to balloon rapidly away from the ground and find new territory. Spiders live at the top of the Himalayas. Spider silk is biocompatible and may be the key to future implants, healing, and even chronic pain treatment. Spiders are a fellow victim of widespread doctor misdiagnosis, because an astounding number of "spider bites" are actually due to something else. Some spiders can change color, others pretend to be ants (very successfully), and spiders make fascinating traps out of their webs. Hanlon's love of spiders comes through wonderfully, and his writing is accessible and fun.
I do think that Hanlon could do some self-examination work on his approach to people's fear of spiders. His dismissive, baffled tone risks alienating the very people that he wants to self-examine. There are a lot of other reasons people might be scared by spiders that he doesn't explore (any Naked & Afraid episode will show you crawly many-legged things are mostly very bad for humans—ants, ticks, cockroaches, millipedes). His mystified lack of empathy will simply turn off many readers. He is 100% right that storytelling is the key to vilifying or saving species (think about how we talk about sharks now vs. after Jaws first came out), and so it's worth pointing out that his storytelling comes off as condescending in many of these passages. Particularly (unfortunately) in two anecdotes that feature women or girls being frightened by spiders, which is a big, big issue (I promise men hate spiders at least as much as girls do).
So ultimately, a good read, but Hanlon could take a lesson from his own book and think about the message sent when stories are told in a certain way.
This book definitely taught me that spiders are awesome. Diving bell spiders live in underwater nests by using air bubbles. Spiders can use electromagnetic fields to balloon rapidly away from the ground and find new territory. Spiders live at the top of the Himalayas. Spider silk is biocompatible and may be the key to future implants, healing, and even chronic pain treatment. Spiders are a fellow victim of widespread doctor misdiagnosis, because an astounding number of "spider bites" are actually due to something else. Some spiders can change color, others pretend to be ants (very successfully), and spiders make fascinating traps out of their webs. Hanlon's love of spiders comes through wonderfully, and his writing is accessible and fun.
I do think that Hanlon could do some self-examination work on his approach to people's fear of spiders. His dismissive, baffled tone risks alienating the very people that he wants to self-examine. There are a lot of other reasons people might be scared by spiders that he doesn't explore (any Naked & Afraid episode will show you crawly many-legged things are mostly very bad for humans—ants, ticks, cockroaches, millipedes). His mystified lack of empathy will simply turn off many readers. He is 100% right that storytelling is the key to vilifying or saving species (think about how we talk about sharks now vs. after Jaws first came out), and so it's worth pointing out that his storytelling comes off as condescending in many of these passages. Particularly (unfortunately) in two anecdotes that feature women or girls being frightened by spiders, which is a big, big issue (I promise men hate spiders at least as much as girls do).
So ultimately, a good read, but Hanlon could take a lesson from his own book and think about the message sent when stories are told in a certain way.
November 21, 2025
Okay... let's start by appreciating that this is indeed a niche book. One that, from the cover, seems to only attract those with an interest in natural history and taxonomy whilst pushing phobic readers unwittingly to the other side of the bookshop they currently inhabit to rock back and forth muttering "Can't sleep. Spider will eat me."
But it's so much more than that. I know I was already parked at the fascination station before I read the book. But I've now been granted a new super power of book promoter. Capable of clearing large rooms and social gatherings with undeniable ease as I spout poorly executed anecdotes expounding the benefits of reading this very book to anyone who will listen or has the misfortune of being backed into a corner with no means of escape.
I've personally already hovered over at least 4 shoulders whilst watching this book being added to a "want to read" list on Goodreads. much like an armed gunman watching a PIN number being entered into an ATM (it was intense... police were called). But it was totally worth it. This is a quality book and people should know.
As a science teacher I've also started a number of days with a small but captive audience forced to listen to stories of spiders in space before they can hear their daily notices.
But after this come the follow up questions and a light is born. People are interested. People want to know. And this book is perfectly written for this audience. Witty, entertaining, informative and very easy to read with small mini-chapters that allow you to put the book down and resume all the life duties you've been neglecting before racing back to pick up where you left off.
I truly think this is a great book for absolutely anyone and will now walk off on my mission to create an army of well-informed casual arachnologists imbued with the powers of this book.
If your reading this, the message is clear... stop now... read the book instead.
But it's so much more than that. I know I was already parked at the fascination station before I read the book. But I've now been granted a new super power of book promoter. Capable of clearing large rooms and social gatherings with undeniable ease as I spout poorly executed anecdotes expounding the benefits of reading this very book to anyone who will listen or has the misfortune of being backed into a corner with no means of escape.
I've personally already hovered over at least 4 shoulders whilst watching this book being added to a "want to read" list on Goodreads. much like an armed gunman watching a PIN number being entered into an ATM (it was intense... police were called). But it was totally worth it. This is a quality book and people should know.
As a science teacher I've also started a number of days with a small but captive audience forced to listen to stories of spiders in space before they can hear their daily notices.
But after this come the follow up questions and a light is born. People are interested. People want to know. And this book is perfectly written for this audience. Witty, entertaining, informative and very easy to read with small mini-chapters that allow you to put the book down and resume all the life duties you've been neglecting before racing back to pick up where you left off.
I truly think this is a great book for absolutely anyone and will now walk off on my mission to create an army of well-informed casual arachnologists imbued with the powers of this book.
If your reading this, the message is clear... stop now... read the book instead.
February 10, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the spider stories. James is a great storyteller and is quite funny in his writing. It makes the book easy to read. I'm surprised for a book about spiders it used the would fluffy a lot but I think it's a great way to think about spiders and I loved the Ukrainian tale about putting spider decorations on the Christmas tree for the spiders that once decorated the tree in spider silk and it glittered and that's why we put tinsel on our Christmas trees. (I've probably butchered the story but it's in the book). There was a bit in the middle regarding the science of silk where I just had to skim over it but the rest was really good and would definitely recommend.
January 7, 2024
This book does everything it purports to do; making spiders fascinating! The level of detail and knowledge is amazing, but what makes this book so good is the writing. It's super engaging and easy to digest, with some the funniest analogies about spiders I've ever read. I particularly loved the description of how Australian Red Back Spiders mate, with the male "somersaulting" towards the females mouth.
I'm now going to watch spiders with a bit more interest than I have before.
I'm now going to watch spiders with a bit more interest than I have before.
September 15, 2025
Informative, interesting and brilliantly witty. It’s rare to find a non fiction book that you just can’t put down. This collection of stories unravels the awesomeness of an under appreciated group of animals in an entertaining, easy fashion. I imagine this book works for kids through to scientists.
January 18, 2024
The Himalayan jumping spider story made me weirdly emotional, I love these little guys. Thank you James!
January 31, 2024
Wow that was fun! Packed full of spider awesomeness and shared enthusiastic curiosity! I just want to go back to page 1 immediately and reread it all over again.
February 22, 2024
Loved the spider facts, but didn’t love the style of writing and felt the humour was a bit forced at times.
July 15, 2025
Painfully clear it was written by a man at times.
July 6, 2025
What a perfect pop science book!! Informatif, kocak, nyebarin propaganda buat ngehargain laba-laba dengan santai tapi persuasif, tulisannya enak dibaca dan di akhir kerasa banget cinta penulis buat alam sampe aku nutup bukunya dengan berkaca-kaca karena teruwu-uwu 🥺🥺🥺
Aku baca ini dikit-dikit tiap hari selama berapa minggu trus sekarang jadi rada sedih karena bakal berpisah 🥹. Makasih banyak Cindy dan Mikha yang udah rekomendasi dan minjemin bukunya. Aku baca dengan nikmat sekaliiiiiii.
Aku baca ini dikit-dikit tiap hari selama berapa minggu trus sekarang jadi rada sedih karena bakal berpisah 🥹. Makasih banyak Cindy dan Mikha yang udah rekomendasi dan minjemin bukunya. Aku baca dengan nikmat sekaliiiiiii.
April 12, 2025
Silk & Venom: The Incredible Lives of Spiders by James O'Hanlon is a captivating and detailed exploration of one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures. O’Hanlon delves into the fascinating biology, behavior, and evolution of spiders, offering a deep dive into their intricate lives. From the silk they weave to the venom they inject, the book offers a wealth of knowledge that is both educational and engrossing.
O’Hanlon’s writing is clear, engaging, and accessible, making complex scientific concepts easy to understand without sacrificing detail. The chapters are filled with interesting facts and anecdotes, and the book is rich with illustrations and photos that complement the narrative beautifully. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone curious about spiders or looking to deepen their understanding of the natural world.
That said, the level of detail can be overwhelming at times, especially for readers who aren’t as familiar with entomology. Some sections feel a bit dense, and the sheer amount of information might be a bit much for casual readers or those looking for a lighter read.
Overall, Silk & Venom is a highly informative and fascinating book that will appeal to nature enthusiasts and those with a particular interest in arachnids. While it’s not always light reading, it offers an in-depth look at the amazing lives of spiders in a way that is both educational and enthralling.
O’Hanlon’s writing is clear, engaging, and accessible, making complex scientific concepts easy to understand without sacrificing detail. The chapters are filled with interesting facts and anecdotes, and the book is rich with illustrations and photos that complement the narrative beautifully. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone curious about spiders or looking to deepen their understanding of the natural world.
That said, the level of detail can be overwhelming at times, especially for readers who aren’t as familiar with entomology. Some sections feel a bit dense, and the sheer amount of information might be a bit much for casual readers or those looking for a lighter read.
Overall, Silk & Venom is a highly informative and fascinating book that will appeal to nature enthusiasts and those with a particular interest in arachnids. While it’s not always light reading, it offers an in-depth look at the amazing lives of spiders in a way that is both educational and enthralling.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews